The Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF) met with its affiliate clubs in their four different jurisdictions throughout the province over the past few weeks.
Managing Director for the MWF, Carly Deacon, says the goal of these regional meetings is to bring club members together to discuss programming, upcoming events and advocacy files that are in the works.
"The Federation is comprised of about 110 affiliate local game and fish clubs across Manitoba," explains Deacon. "So, we have a pretty broad outreach across the province. We talked about some of the bigger files in the province that affects different jurisdictions but affects the province as a whole, such as chronic wasting disease, Bill 21 firearms restriction, and the advocacy work that the Federation has put forward to improve our enforcement: the Conservation Officers in the province and the great things that they're doing. So, we had a great fleet of advocacy files to talk about."
"But then also it gives the clubs an opportunity to ask questions, and government [representatives] also attended the meetings, which is really great," she adds. "So, they gave really thorough updates on wildlife, fisheries and enforcement and that one-to-one opportunity with government staff and our clubs to ask questions as well."
The province is looking at ways to recruit but also to retain conservation officers. The provincial government is investing $300,000 towards curtailing night-lighting and other illegal hunting and fishing practices through the funding of contracts for helicopter surveillance and the purchase of under-cover vehicles, facilitating more check stops, and hiring more law enforcement officers.
"There's a whole fleet of investments that the province has made," she adds. "So, more boots on the ground, more helicopters in the air, and all the great tools that they, the COs, now have in their toolbox is going to definitely improve their efficiency."
As in every area in our communities, COVID affected many programs and events. However, post-pandemic the MWF affiliate clubs have increased their membership.
"Local game and fish clubs couldn't engage in person with their events and programs, which is obviously where the bulk of our membership sales and renewals come from, so kudos to our clubs for getting us through those Covid years," shares Deacon. "Our membership is up by about 5% which is outstanding."
"Meeting with the clubs over the past few weeks, we see a lot of motivation and engagement and people are ready to get their events going again and get their community engaged to offer all the awesome programming that we have."
Those programs include Learn to Fish clinics, Youth Fishing League, 1st Shot instruction, Manitoba Junior Rifle, Provincial Hunting Day, Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW), Lady Fowler hunt outings and mentorship programs.
Regional meetings are held in the four jurisdictions in Manitoba: south-central, eastern, Interlake, and southwest regions.
The follow-up to these meetings will take place at the MWF's AGM at the end of April in Winnipeg. "So, any clubs that might have missed regional meetings will also have the opportunity to hear about all those updates at our AGM," adds Deacon.
For more information on the Manitoba Wildlife Federation and to find an affiliate club near you, visit: mwf.mb.ca